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Pettitte: 'I am sorry' Feb. 18: Andy Pettitte says, "I am sorry for the mistakes I made," at a news conference to talk about the steroid scandal. |
TAMPA, Fla. - Andy Pettitte had finished 55½ minutes of apologies, explaining why he used human growth hormone and why he said what he did about Roger Clemens.
Derek Jeter walked over, and the captain wrapped his arms around the visibly relieved Pettitte.
Following an offseason of turmoil, Pettitte was welcomed back to the New York Yankees with open arms.
“My boys are hanging out over there,” Pettitte said Monday after arriving at his news conference Monday and unexpectedly seeing Jeter, Jorge Posada and Mariano Rivera off to his right, sitting in a row.
Whether Pettitte can repair his relationship with Clemens remains to be seen. They haven’t spoken in more than a month, since Pettitte corroborated allegations of drug use against the seven-time Cy Young Award winner.
“Obviously it’s put a strain, I think, on our friendship,” Pettitte said. “I love him like a brother.”
On the day he reported to spring training, Pettitte faced reporters for the first time since the Mitchell Report was released in December and revealed accusations he had used HGH.
“I felt like I need to come out, be forward with this,” Pettitte said. “Whatever circumstances or repercussions come with it, I’ll take and I’ll take like a man and I’ll try to do my job.”
Other athletes have ducked tough questions about allegations of drug use, using evasions and nonspecific replies. Pettitte admitted his mistakes and several times patiently asked reporters, “Did I answer your question?”
Flanked by manager Joe Girardi and general manager Brian Cashman, Pettitte had a hint of the shadow on his face that he’s shown on the mound during so many postseason games. He seemed skittish at the start as he read from notes.
“I want to apologize to the New York Yankees’ and to the Houston Astros’ organizations and to their fans and to all my teammates and to all of baseball fans for the embarrassment I have caused them,” he said. “I also want to tell anyone that is an Andy Pettitte fan I am sorry, especially any kids that might look up to me.”
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He said he was a “nervous wreck” and “scared to death” before the news conference, held under a tent behind the third-base side of Legends Field. He relaxed after a few minutes and went into far greater detail than most accused athletes have about their transgressions.
“We’ve been through a lot of tough times in baseball. Why not support him?” Rivera said. “I consider Andy my friend. I’m glad I was there.”
Brian McNamee, the former personal trainer to Pettitte and Clemens, said in the Mitchell Report that Pettitte used HGH in 2002 while with the Yankees. Two days after the report was released Dec. 13, Pettitte issued a statement through his agent confirming McNamee’s account and saying that was the only time he used HGH.
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In a deposition and an affidavit to a congressional committee two weeks ago, Pettitte said he injected himself with HGH for one day in 2004 while with the Astros after obtaining two syringes from his father.
“I am sorry for not telling the whole truth in my original statement,” Pettitte said. “I never wanted to bring my dad into a situation like this. This was between me and him, and no one else. I testified about my dad in part because I felt in my heart I had to, but mainly because he urged me to tell the truth, even if it hurt him.”
Pettitte said there were no other times he used performance-enhancing drugs.
“That’s it. There are no other surprises out there,” he said. “That’s all there is and anything that would come up would be definitely false allegations.”
McNamee said he injected Clemens with steroids and HGH at least 16 times from 1998-01, and all three were among those called before a congressional committee. Pettitte told Congress that Clemens had discussed nearly a decade ago using HGH.
In addition, Pettitte testified McNamee, the former personal trainer for Clemens and Pettitte, had spoken in 2003 or 2004 about steroids use by Clemens.
SportsTalk: Albert Pujols signs with the Angels and Prince Fielder joins the Tigers. Which team is better now?
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